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For every child, the right to Future
How can you make a difference?
Following national consultations and the commitment to establish a National First Foods Coalition in 2024, UNICEF Sierra Leone seeks an individual national consultant to develop a National First Foods Action Plan based on the available evidence. This assignment will be conducted in partnership with the Directorate of Food and Nutrition (DFN), Ministry of Health in collaborattion with Edesia Nutrition who are conducting a situation analyses focusing more on the food environments, CF diets/practices / behaviour / private sector mapping as well as the World Bank-International Finance Corporation (WB-IFC) who soon due to start a review of the policies / regulations influencing the availability of safe and nutritious complementary foods / foods broadly. Therefore, this consultancy will address any of the situation analysis gaps not captured in the Edesia and WB reviews and will consolidate all the available evidence and support consultations that will lead to the development of a First Foods Action Plan. for children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0006775 external TOR.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT
Minimum Qualifications required:Masters. Advanced university degree in food science, food technology, agriculture, agricultural economics, nutrition, public health nutrition, economics, social sciences, public policy or another relevant field
Years of Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
**Work Experience:**At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in food systems, agriculture, nutrition policy, research or implementation, including at least 5 years focused on nutritionsensitive food systems and nutrient-dense foods for young children.
Language Requirements:English and knowledge of the local languages.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:Expertise in nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programming with emphasis on food based approaches including private-sector engagement, Small and Medium Size Enterprises or producer analysis, food systems, agricultural value chains, markets or foodindustry development. Experience related to specialized nutritious foods, food-product development or food technology, and pathways for safe scale-up, is an asset. Proven experience in developing strategies, action plans, implementation tools, investment cases or knowledge products.
Desirables:
- •Experience related to specialized nutritious foods, foodproduct development or food technology, and pathways for safe scale-up, is an asset.
- • Experience working in Africa or other low- and middle-income countries, including fragile or humanitarian contexts.
- • Experience in multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration involving government, UN agencies, academia, civil society and the private sector.
- • Excellent analytical, facilitation and written communication skills in English.
- • Knowledge of Sierra Leone’s food and nutrition context is an asset.
**Technical proposal requirement:**Applicants are requested to submit one writing sample (max 10 pages) demonstrating relevant experience in the development of technical and analytical documents. The sample should meet the following criteria: be (co)-authored by the applicant, be relevant to the assignment such as public finance management, align with the deliverables such as technical guidance, analysis or policy-oriented document.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):
- An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
- A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0006775 FINANCIAL PROPOSAL.docx
- A detailed technical proposal
Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18).
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
